Mets Rumors: Latest Injury Updates on Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJune 15, 2022

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 15: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets talks with Max Scherzer #21 in the dugout during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, April 15, 2022 in New York, New York. All players wear the number 42 on their jerseys in honor of Jackie Robinson. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images

The New York Mets are without their ace duo of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, and it may be a while before either can return.

DeGrom, who has a stress reaction in his right scapula, will throw his fifth bullpen session Friday and still needs to make "several rehab starts" before he returns, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
.<a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ken_Rosenthal</a> on deGrom & Scherzer's return from the IL: <br><br>"For deGrom we are looking at July. For Scherzer, best case scenario probably late June. But I suspect probably longer than that." <a href="https://t.co/2pPQeuRG7s">pic.twitter.com/2pPQeuRG7s</a>

Scherzer, meanwhile, will throw a simulated game Thursday before going on a rehab assignment. Rosenthal said Scherzer can "throw 100 percent right now" but doesn't know how often he can do it, or how long he could sustain it, as he recovers from a strained left oblique.

The 33-year-old deGrom missed more than half of last season with right side and right forearm injuries and has yet to pitch this season. The four-time All-Star and two-time National League Cy Young Award winner is arguably the best pitcher in baseball.

Scherzer, 37, suffered his injury on May 18.

"The way to describe this injury, the rehab of this, half the battle's getting back to 90 percent and then the second half of this battle's from 90 percent to 100 percent," he told reporters Tuesday. "With the trainers here, we've done a great job of getting back to 90 percent, but I'm still in a fight there to try to get to 100 percent. We've done good work to get to this point, but I've still got a lot in front of me."

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The Mets signed the eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner to a three-year, $130 million deal in November. He has made eight starts, going 5-1 with a 2.54 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 49.2 innings.

Despite the absences, the Mets are 41-22, the best mark in the National League. They hold a five-game edge on the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and a nine-game lead on the Philadelphia Phillies. The Los Angeles Dodgers (38-23) and San Diego Padres (39-24) are on the Mets' heels for the top spot in the NL.

Getting back deGrom and Scherzer will only make them more dangerous.